Nutrients
Differently from energy that gets in and out of the ecosystem according to a linear process, the matter follows a circular route, passing from the abiotic section to living organisms, and then comes back to the abiotic section. These routes are defined as biogeochemical cycles. Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorous, and calcium are necessary to living organisms in large quantities and therefore they are defined as macronutrients. Other elements like iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc, etc. are necessary in lower quantities and for this reason they are defined as micronutrients. This division is purely academic, as organisms, in order to grow and reproduce, need all those substances in different quantities, according to the physiological moment of their development. Essential substances vary from species to species. Both the numeric development of a population and the individual growth of the organism depend on the element or compound that is present in the environment in the lowest quantity: the limiting factor.
Special reports
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30 July 2020
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
23 June 2020
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
29 May 2017
The universe of Primo Levi
Primo Levi was not only a writer, but also a chemist, linguist and artisan...
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6 February 2017
Robotics: environmental monitoring and more
More than 830 events were organised in 30 countries during the European Robotics Week (18-27 November)
22 September 2015
An artificial paradise under the sea
Artificial reefs are submerged man-made structures fostering marine biodiversity...
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10 February 2014
Coral turns pale!
The coral reef is one of the ecosystems with the richest biodiversity...
29 April 2013
Intruders in the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea has always been considered of fundamental importance...
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30 July 2020
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
23 June 2020
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
-
29 May 2017
The universe of Primo Levi
Primo Levi was not only a writer, but also a chemist, linguist and artisan...
6 February 2017
Robotics: environmental monitoring and more
More than 830 events were organised in 30 countries during the European Robotics Week (18-27 November)
-
22 September 2015
An artificial paradise under the sea
Artificial reefs are submerged man-made structures fostering marine biodiversity...
-
30 July 2020
Holidays, yes! but they must be sustainable!
We have been speaking of sustainable behaviours to apply to our daily life, but what happens when we unplug and…
-
23 June 2020
The Last Wild Valley. In defence of the Cime Bianche
The Vallone delle Cime Bianche or Courtaud Valley rises at the top of the Val d'Ayas, in Valle d'Aosta. It…
-
29 May 2017
The universe of Primo Levi
Primo Levi was not only a writer, but also a chemist, linguist and artisan...
From the Multimedia section
Facts
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16 May 2011
The concentration of elements
In nature the quantity of elements is extremely important...